Value investors should be excited

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- Wendell Perkins, portfolio manager for the Johnson Family Large Cap Value and Johnson Family International Value, says that current market conditions have made "big chunks of the traditional value market very, very cheap," which should have value investors excited about current buying opportunities.

In a radio interview with Chuck Jaffe, MarketWatch senior columnist, Perkins
JFLCX, +0.28%JFIEX
said he's optimistic the economy can avoid a recession in 2008, noting that severe economic conditions would create more challenging times for value investors.

But he said that people who believe the future market will favor growth to the exclusion of value will be missing out on some great long-term buys.

Perkins also suggested that investors in a few hot stocks take their profits now, noting that holders of Barrick Gold
ABX, +0.90%
and China Mobile
CHL, +1.01%
have seen enormous runs and should pull back rather than getting greedy in areas of particularly high volatility.

Jaffe's radio show regularly features expert reviews of stocks and mutual funds suggested by MarketWatch readers; to request a stock or mutual fund for review, send your name, hometown and the ticker symbols that interest you to Chuck Jaffe.

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